Thank You Mr. Manish Kumar

by Sumana Senbagchee

June 25, 2006

Kudos to Mr. Manish Kumar for his "Comments" on the need for "Temples of Learning" in Bihar. It was extremely refreshing to read his cogently written, thoughtfully presented and carefully researched article - refreshing because for once a reader has been able to set aside personal sentiments and prejudices to speak really persuasively.

More often than not, I am sick of reading the same clichéd praises about our historical heritage in Bihar, the lists of great men and women, Ashoke and Gautam Buddha and blah, blah, blah.

Mr. Kumar's article based on facts, figures, statistics is true, but most importantly he is trying to persuade the nostalgia-ridden, sentiment-dripping readers of PatnaDaily to think of what could be good for Bihar, not the Bihar-forgotten but the Bihar-that-could-be.

As someone born and raised in Bihar (now, alas, Jharkhand), of parents also born and raised in the state, as a three-generation Bihari of a different ethnicity, my stakes in Bihar are still very high. Growing up knowing about our many natural 'gifts' -- our rich mineral resources, our stunning forests, our clean air and water of which our neighbouring states craved and couldn't have enough as 'tourists', and more - I weep every time I return, for the poor who get poorer; towns, cities, roads that get dirtier, more congested; for the lack of personal safety which has sent most of my family away, and most of all the lack of standard good education that has driven away the young who should have ideally inherited the earth.

Mr. Kumar writes without mawkish sentiment but with true feelings, anxiety and fear - all of which I share, but he has put into words much more effectively than mine or anyone else's. I hope people take him seriously. Again, kudos.

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